Service Above Self

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision.

For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end. Learn more about our structure and our foundation and our strategic vision.

What we do: Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to: Promote peace; Fight disease; Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; Save mothers and children; Support education; Grow local economies.

What Is Rotary? - It’s a leadership organization…We’re made up of local business, professional and civic leaders. We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, & through that, we’re able to get things done in this community.

We are 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world. Our differing occupations, cultures, and countries give us a unique perspective. Our shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.

WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT?

Our distinct point of view and approach gives us unique advantages:

We see differently: Our multidisciplinary perspective

helps us see challenges in unique ways.

We think differently: We apply leadership and

expertise to social issues —

and find unique solutions.

We act responsibly: Our passion and

perseverance create lasting change.

We make a difference at home and around the world:

Our members can be found in your community

and across the globe.

HOW DO WE WORK?

Our impact starts with our members—people who work tirelessly with their clubs to solve some of our communities' toughest challenges.

Their efforts are supported by Rotary International, our member association, and The Rotary Foundation, which turns generous donations into grants that fund the work of our members and partners around the world. Rotary is led by our members—responsible leaders who help to carry forward our organization's mission and values in their elected roles.

We have identified specific causes to target to maximize our local and global impact.

At the same time, we understand that each community has its own unique needs and concerns.

Through our network of resources and partners, we help clubs focus their service efforts in promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.

Oshawa has 2 Rotary clubs - The Rotary Club of Oshawa, which originated in 1920, and The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, chartered in October 1976.

The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, with 31 members, meets Tuesdays, at 6:00 pm at The Oshawa Golf & Curling Club, in the heart of Oshawa, where Rotarians enjoy each other's fellowship and discuss ways to serve others.

Service and Fellowship are the hallmarks of The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood and its members. The Rotary motto, "Service Above Self", guides the actions of this Rotary Club and all Rotary Clubs as they plan and carry out projects that

· feed the hungry

· fight disease

· assist the handicapped and the elderly

· work with young people

· combat illiteracy

· fund scholarships

· and help to protect the environment.

Through this shared commitment, Rotarians develop a feeling of fellowship that extends beyond our club, beyond Oshawa, and beyond Canada, to encompass the world.

Rotarian service takes almost as many forms as there are clubs. The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood performs a host of programs designed to serve Oshawa and the Region of Durham, promote youth activities, build international goodwill, and provide vocational guidance to young people, with programs like Job Shadow.

Community Service, the heartbeat of Rotary, is a vital component of every Rotary club's activities. The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, participates in many different local projects, each and every year.

We have provided a new van for the Oshawa Senior Citizens Centre.

We have provided equipment to the Participation House apartments for handicapped adults and who also attend and enjoy our annual Christmas party with us for many years.

For more than a decade, we were responsible for and worked “hands on” with the construction of the Santa Claus Float in the downtown Oshawa Santa Claus Parade.

For many years, we have assisted Parkwood, the estate of the late Colonel R.S. McLaughlin, with Christmas lights, in the past, and more recently, with their annual Easter Egg Hunt.

In 2001, we recently donated $ 15,000 to Parkwood to assist in the renovation of this historic site.

From 1996 through 2001, we donated $50,000 to the Oshawa General Hospital Building Fund.

In 2008, we completed another donation of $50,000 to the R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre.

In 2008, we have also donated $15,000 to the 2008 Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Spring Games, recently held in the Durham Region May 29 – 31, 2008. Durham Region Rotary Clubs donated over $55,000.00 to assist with the Games. Way to go… Rotary.

In January 2014, we successfully completed our 33rd Annual Skate-a-thon at General Motors Centre, in downtown Oshawa. In those 33 years, we have provided Oshawa Minor Hockey, Ringette, and Skating clubs with more than $259,800. And we have provided an additional $259,800 to our club to fund our many projects.

In short, we spend as much as we take in , every year.

Traffic accidents are a leading threat to school age children, and the Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, the Optimist Club of Ajax, and the Durham Regional Police, thought that it was imperative to reduce that threat and create greater safety awareness for young children, in a realistic street setting.

On September 13, 1995, the three organizations opened this innovative, educational concept called “The Kids’ Safety Village of Durham Region”, on a 1.2 acre sight in Whitby, Ontario, on land donated by the Durham Board of Education. It is a miniature village used to teach street safety and awareness, to over 15,000 elementary school children, aged 6, 7 and 8, each year. And in 2014-2015, we began expanding and renovating the Kids Safety Village for the next 20 years.

As Rotary International President Jim Lacey said in his January 1999 message, in The Rotarian magazine, “Children are our future, and it is our responsibility to provide a safe, nurturing environment in which they can grow and thrive”.

Guiding a new generation toward the ideals of service and international goodwill is an aim that Rotarians take seriously.

The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood has contributed to The Rotary Foundation each and every year. We have hosted many youths over many years in the Youth Exchange Program, and also hosted many Group Study Exchange Teams in our short 37 year history.

We are strong annual financial supporters of the Polio Plus Campaign to eradicate Polio from the entire world, Canadian Land Mines Foundation, Operation Eyesight, The Nile Rift Valley Water & Sanitation Project, The Guatemala Literacy Project, and the Shelterbox Program in Myanmar and Haiti, just to name a few of our International Service Projects.

In 2006, we jointly dedicated a Bridge , with The Rotary Club of Oshawa. The bridge, located over The Oshawa Creek in The Oshawa Valley Botanical Gardens in downtown Oshawa will serve to remind the citizens of Oshawa of the tremendous acts of service that both Rotary Clubs have performed for so many years. And in July 2013, we dedicated a new gazebo at the north end of the same gardens in partnership with the Rotary Club of Oshawa and the City of Oshawa.

The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood has also sponsored service clubs for students. The Interact Clubs at O’Neil Collegiate and Vocational Institute and at Mclaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute are for high school students and have been going on for a few years now. The Rotaract Club of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology/ Durham College is for post secondary school young men and women and has just completed its third year of Rotaract. All 3 clubs are filled with young people who want to make a difference in the quality of life, by helping others, in Canada and also internationally.

Being a Rotarian means making a strong commitment of time and energy.

Rotarians are expected to participate actively in their club's projects. The rewards always surpass the level of commitment. We make an important difference in the quality of life in Oshawa and worldwide.

Rotarians view their expertise and leadership positions in their business and professions as another opportunity to serve.

Career information to 32 young people from 2 Secondary Schools in Oshawa as they try to plan their future is a vital component of our Vocational Service. It is through the efforts, of every Rotarian, that our club has been given the opportunity to participate in valuable Career Information projects like Job Shadow for more than 16 years. Rotarians are matched up for one day , with a student who shadows the Rotarian and then attends the weekly Rotary meeting to tell of their experiences.

This, in a nutshell, is what The Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood is all about.

And in 2010-2011, our very own Ted Morrison had a very successful year as District Governor of 7070, the leader of the 55 Rotary Clubs that make up the District , here in Southern Ontario.

We are so proud to be part of the world's first service club organization, born from a simple idea of a young man, Paul Harris , who found himself in the lonely city of Chicago, and how, over that last 105 years, it has become an ethical, motivating force for service through fellowship among men and women of goodwill, all over the world.

You can start the holiday season on a charitable note by donating on Giving Tuesday, 27 November.Why should Rotary be your charity of choice?&nbsp;Because our 1.2 million members see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our